Police release description of person of interest in Graham case

Second-year College student Hannah Graham was last heard from at 1:20 a.m. Saturday morning. Footage shows she was walking along the Downtown Mall shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday morning.

Charlottesville Police released a statement shortly after 4 p.m. today which included a description of the man a witness identified as last being seen with missing second-year College student Hannah Graham the night she disappeared.

“This person is described as a black male, 5’10”-5’11”, 250-285 pounds, close shaved head, goatee, with a slight ‘beer belly’,” according to the press release. “He is described as being in his late 20s-early 30s and wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt. He was seen with Ms. Graham in the 300-500 blocks of E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall in the City of Charlottesville around 1-1:15 a.m. on September 13th (Friday night/Saturday morning). He is a person of interest and if anyone has any information on him or saw him this night, please call the tip line. The number is: (434) 295-3851.”

The witness, who is seen on footage following Graham as she walked down the Downtown Mall shortly after 1 a.m., said he stopped following Graham when this second man came up and put his arm around her. The witness said he had been following Graham because she seemed distressed and he said he assumed this second individual either knew Graham or was trying to help her.

A monetary reward compiled by the Charlottesville community is being offered for information leading to the cause of Graham’s disappearance.

“The City of Charlottesville is offering a $10,000 reward for information [pertaining to Graham’s disappearance]," according to the press release. "In addition to this money … the University of Virginia is also offering $10,000 and some local individuals and businesses have come forward wishing to contribute funds to a reward. The total reward being offered at this time, with all contributions, is $50,000.”

The University of Virginia is having a candlelit vigil tonight for Hannah Graham at the Amphitheatre at 9 p.m. According to the event’s Facebook page, the event is being held to “celebrate the overwhelming hope that she will come back to us safely.”